Car door



s sheets-sheet 1 F. C. HEINEN CAR DOOR Filed May 1, 1933 July 23,' 1935.

19T-TY I July 23, 1935. F. c. HEINEN CAR DOOR Filed May l, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 4 EeEDE/e/cz C HEM/EM 5 gagement with a 'supporting Patented `uly 23, 1935 v oARfDoon chicago, nl.; ass'ignonty.

The' Youngstown Steel Cleveland, O hio, avcorporation "Application May 1, 1933,- serfiai No; cagioif 18 ,Clai`nrls.,r

This invention relates to cardoors'. y It isan object of this invention to provide yslid-` ing car doors for railway house cars, saiddoorsV being so constructed 'as -to robtain frictionalv en track in'the closed position ofsaid doors. l I

A further object is to provide sliding' car door s" having longitudinally4 inclined members adapted to engage 1 rolling means having rolling ycontact Wi-thna supporting track, said members in the closed Vposition of the doors beingout of. engagement with said rolling means whereby said doors may be friction'ally supported upon said track.

A further object is 'to provide sliding doors for railwayv house" cars `adapted to'be -supportedupon balls for the major portion of their movement and. adapted to be free of said balls and supported -frictionally upon saidy carin the closed position of said doors. i

A further object is to provide sliding doors having a member which is deformed tov provide similarly inclined portions adapted to have rolling contact upon rollingmeans-movable relative to said doors while permitting frictional support of said doors in the closed position-thereof.

A furtherV object 4is to -provideslidng doors having secured thereto a straight member carrying longitudinally inclined means adapted to engage rolling means movable relative to said doors whereby said doors vmove freely during their travel to open and .closed .position and are frictionally supported in thelatter position. n

A further object is to provide sliding doors adapted for movement through .the Vmedium 'oaiV relatively movablerolling means uponia straight uninterrupted. supporting track, "said *doors in closed-position being frictionally supported upon said track. f f

Other objects will become clearfas the descriptionof the Iinvention proceeds.

In the ydravvmgs forming part of 4this specil cation I Figure 1 isa-partial elevation of asliding car door embodying one form of the instant invention;

FigureZ is a fragmentary enlarged elevation of the lower portion of the door in full closed position; n v v Figure 3is a viewsimilar to Figure'Z, showing the door in full open position;

Figure 4 is a vertical section taken on lined-#4 of Figure 2; yFigure 5 is a vertical section taken on line 5-5 of Figure 2; i. Figure 6 is afragmentary lelevation of a car' ures 1 to 5 thereof illustrating one iform'of'the,

erence numeral 21.

(or-zof-zm' door showing a modiedform-of the invention; Figure 'Risa-fragmentary elevationkshowing the zdoor illustrated in Figure 6 in full open posi- 51911;1y l.. 'i .Y "y Y r .Figure 8 is avertical section taken on line l8--8 k:i of Figure 6; f Y r l. Figure 9 's a partial elevationof a car door shovnngv a f u1 fther. modied -form of the invention;`r ,I

vvvvligureplOis. a `vertical section taken on line Iii-l0 of Figure9; and., y ,1. Figureilis a vertical section taken on vline ll--II o'f Figure9.

"Referring to the drawings and particularly Fig.-

1i" instant inven'tion'the numeral, I Jv indicates aportionvof thel side wall of a. railway .house oar in conjunction With Which-doors showing ther inventionare utilized.. "I he side wall IIJ is provided withadoor opening Ilv which isadapted `to be closed by means -of asliding door |2.,y The .operi-A ing *Il is defined byA the side plate. 'a, front and, rear door posts I4 andliand the floor Iii .of the car. 'The door lZ is lsupported for longitudinal movement relative to the side wall I0 oifthe car upon a track I l supported from" the side's`ill...l8

of the. carjby means of Ya pluralityof track supporting brackets Vl 9.

Disengagement of the upper portion of the door I2 from the side wall 10,' is preventedby means of the retaining bar 2U se-` cured to the side plate l2Y andprovided with, ,a

downwardly extendingangezi adapted to over-g .lapthe upper marginI of the door. Diserigagementor the lower portion of the ,doorir'om' the carsideis preventedlby means. of Y the bracket members-22 `and 23 which, fas clearly shownin Figures LLani-i5 of the drawing s are provided with .upwardly extending anges 24and 25,`adapt.

ed tc. overlap the-depending flange r26 offthe' track. 'In its closed position the :door: is adapted vto be fastenedtothesidewall Ill by means of a latching ystructure indicated generally bythe ref- Anopening and closing"V ar-v rangement comprising a bracket y28 secured .to the ysidewall idan arm 29 pivoted to said bracketv andan? operating lever .39 pivota'llyv carried by the door adjacentV the .forward vertical margin thereof is utilized inconnection with the door in order to impart initial opening and nal'closingmovements'thereto. clearly. illustrated inFigurefl. of the drawings'the door l2 -is preferably, thoughK not-necessarily, provided With a plurality of'hori'- zontaljcorrugations3.!which merge at theirends into verticalfcorrugations 32 and .33 .formedl in the door` inwardly .of Ythe vertical 1 edges thereof. 5.5i

In the closed position of the door it is supported preferably through the medium of the bracket members 22 and 23 frictionally upon the track I1. During the opening and closing movements of the door it is supported upon antifriction means, preferably in the form of balls 34, disposed upon and having relative movement with respect to the track I1. When the door is frictionally supported in its closed position the weight thereof is carried directly by the track or upon a member secured to the track so that the balls 34 are relieved of such weight. During the movement of the door, however, the door is disengaged from lthe track and positioned upon the balls.

One form of the invention utilizing the principle above described is illustrated in Figures 1 to 5 of the drawings. A longitudinally extending member or track 35 is secured preferably to the lower margin of the door. This member 35 comprisesra verticalflange 36 bymeans of which said member is riveted as indicated at 3'I` to the door. A` downwardly andoutwardly inclined flange v38k depends from the vertical flange 36 and is providedwith a downwardly and inwardly inclined flange 39 and constitutes therewith la substantially 4inverted V shaped section within `which the balls 34 are adapted to be seated during movement of the door. A substantially vertical flange 40 may depend from the flange 38.

'I'he member 35 is deformed so as` to provide rearwardly extending inclined portions 4I and 42, as illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawings. I'hese portions may be provided by bending the n member 35 as indicated at 43 and 44. By this 's arrangement ofthe member 35 the door is adapted to have frictional engagement with the track I'I` in the full closed position of said door, while the door may be disposed upon the balls for movem'ent thereon toward open position by means of a relatively slight rearward movement of the door. This movement may be imparted to the door by actuation of the operating lever 30 which, by its engagement with the bracket 28, will impart the necessary movement to the door and position the door upon the ballsf34.

The operationof the door from the foregoing description will be apparent; The operation of the starting arrangement will impart an initial opening movement to the door and transfer the weight thereof from the track to the balls. When this has been accomplished the door may readily `be moved to any desired open position. The operation ,of the starting arrangement` brings about'engagementbetween the member 35 and the'balls 34, this engagement being maintained during 'the opening and closing movements of the door .until .the doorV reaches its full closed position when it is again supported directly by the track. In this position the balls are moved to the point of highest inclination of the member 35 so that they are relieved of the weight of the door. For the purpose of maintaining the balls in their proper relationship a spacer may be utilized. In order to prevent undesirable shifting of the ballsand the spacer toward closed position a stop is employed, this stop preferably taking the` form of a rivet A46 driven through the track IfI as illustrated in Figure 2 of thek drawings. It is to be observed that in the full open position Aof the door, as illustrated in Figure 3 of the drawings, thedoor will abut a plurality of back stopsV 41, one vof which is shown Vin this figure of :the drawings, while the 'front margin thereof will overlap the rearidoor post I5 so as to expose the 'entire door opening.

A modified form of the invention is illustrated in Figures 6, 7 and 8 of the drawings. In place of the member 35 there is secured to the lower margin of the door a Z-bar 48 positioned with its flanges 49 and 50 in vertical planes and the web 5I extending outwardly from the door. As in the previously described form. of the invention the Z-bar 48 is deformed so as, to provide the rearwardlypinclined portions 52 and53. The balls 34 are disposed upon the track I I and are adapted to have rolling engagement with the web 5I of theZ-bar in the opening and closing movements of the door. The balls 34 are maintained in their proper spaced relationship by means of vthe spacer 45. In this modification, as well as in the previously described form, the brackets 22 and 23 areadapted to be positioned upon the track I'I in the fulll closed position of the door and to serve additionally to prevent escape of the balls by Vextending across the ends of the members 35 and 48, as clearly illustrated in Figures 4 and 8 of the drawings. The door I2, as shown in Figure 7 of the drawings, will expose the full `door opening in the open v position of said door.

Figures 9 to 1l, inclusive, illustrate a further modified form of the invention. In this form a Z-bar 54 having a vertical flange 55 by means of which said Z-bar is secured to the door, a horizontally disposed web 56 and a vertical flange 51 depending therefrom, is utilized. An angle member 458, arranged with one flange extending downwardly, is secured'to'the' underside of the web 56 of the Z-bar. A plurality of channel members 59 positioned on opposite sides of the center line of the door are secured to the Z-bar 54.l These channel members 59, as clearly shown'in Figure 9 of the drawings, are so arranged Aas to incline'toward the rear of the door.'A 'I'his arrangement may be effected by means of the sertion of a` substantially wedge shaped wooden filler E9 between the channel members 5 9 and the angle'memb'er 58. A plurality of balls 34 are utilized in this form of the invention in order to support the door duringits travel, these balls as in the previous modifications being maintained in spaced relation by means of the ,ball spacer 45. The door I2 embodyingtheconsidered form of the invention is shown in its full closed position 'in Figure 9 of the drawings. It will be apparent from this. figure ,that in suchpposition the door rests upon and is frictionally engaged withy the track I 'I. `It will be apparent, furthermore, that in the closed position of the doorl the supporting vballs are relieved of the weight of the door. The construction illustrated for obtaining this result preferably takes the form of outward swedging of the flanges of the channel members 59,as indicated at 6IV in Figure l0 of the drawings. If desired, instead of theoutward swedging of the flanges thesev flanges may becoped so as to provide for the disengagement ofthe balls from the channel members 59.in the full closed position of the door.V The downwardly extending vertical flange 51 of the Z-bar 54 and the depending flange of the angle member 58 con- Y fine the supporting balls upon the track and prevent disengagement of said balls therefrom and inwarddisplacement of said balls upon the track. In view of the fact that the mode of `operation of the door constructed in accordance with the present form Yof the'invention is the same as that described withN reference to the first form of the invention no further mention thereof is here made.4` .p H n ,Y

It is apparent that numerous changes and TOT vsaid'door being ydinally inclined relative` to lsaid supporting means l 'friction means having changes be' comprehended Withinftliis'- invention., fvvliiclfiv isvtbe limited 'only by the-Scope the claims appended hereto. f Y f l. In combination, "a"`s'liding door, antifriction rrleans,l meanssupporting sa'd antirictionmeans, provided With `rportions longitu-l adapted to'liwe engagement upon 'Said antifrio? tion means durin'gtlie travel said door, said door being rictionally supported in theclosed position'thereof. Y

2. In combinatiomfa sliding door', a'track, antirolling 'engagement with said track,` said meansbe'ing vcapable oi longitudinal movementrelative to said door, portions inclined relative to said track provided on ksaid door adapted to support the same 'upon said antifriction means during the travel'jthereof, said door :being frictionally supported in closed position'. l l l o 3. In combination, afsliding door, atrack having a horizontally positioned uninterrupted tread, antifriction means disposed upon said tread for relative longitudinal -inovement with respect to said track and said door, means secured to and adapted to support said door upon said antifriction means, said means being inclined upwardly and rearwardly relative to said track whereby said door will be supported upon said antiirictional means during the travel of said door and be disengaged from said anti'frictional means and frictionally supported upon said track in the closed position of said door.

4. In combination, a sliding door, antifriction means, `means for supporting said antifriction means, said door in its closed position being frictionally supported upon said supporting means whereby said antiiriction means is relieved of the weight of said door, means for transferring the weight of said door to said antiriction means, said door having a member rigidly secured thereto and adapted to have-peripheral engagement with said antiiriction means during the travel of said door.

5. In combination, a sliding door, a longitudinally extending rearwardly inclined member secured tothe lower margin of said door, anti-4 friction means, the inclination of said member being such that said door is frictionally supported in the closed position thereof with the weight of said door removed from said antiric` tion means and means for disposing said door upon said antifriction means with said member in peripheral engagement with said antifriction means.

6. In combination, a sliding door, a longitudinally extending rearwardly inclined member secured to the lower margin of said door, a track, a plurality of spaced balls disposed upon said track, means for maintaining said balls in spaced said balls having longitudinal movement relative to said door and said track, said kmemberbeing so inclined that the door is fric` tionally supported upon said track and the balls relieved of -th'e weight of the door in the closed position thereof and means for disposing said door upon said balls for movement thereon.

7. In combination, a slidingdoor, a longitudinally extending rearwardly inclined member secured to the lower margin of said door, a track, a plurality of spaced balls disposed upon said track, means for maintaining said balls in spaced y somewhat less than one-half- `center line ot said door a plurality of rlatin,said balls `having longitudinal movement relative to'saiddoor and' said track, said member being vso inclinedVtliatfthe y supported upon said'track and the ballsielie'ved 'of the'weight oi thedoor inthe closed position thereof? and meansl for disposing said doorA upon said ballsffor movement thereon; said track havingmeans adapted to limit travel of said balls in the direction ci closing'movement of said door. 8. In combination, a sliding door, ka longitudinally extending memberV secured margin 'of said' door, said-inemb'er'being deformed to provide portions inclined'ini'the direction 'of openingl movement of said' f door, `each'oi said portions Yextending .continuously for a `distance the length oi said door, each of said'portions including angularly related viianges forming an inverted V shaped section, a ball seated in eachsection and a snpportingtrack upon which said balls arerdisposed.

l9. In combination; a sliding' door members secured to a horizontal margin of said door,-said members being inclined in the direction of open-r ing-movement of said door andcomprising angularly relatedr flangesv providing ari/inverted V shaped section, a ball positioned in each vsection adapted for rolling engagement therewitnla sup'- porting track, said balls being disposed upon said track for movement relative thereto. f

l0. A metallic door comprising, in combination with the panel thereof, a member secured to a horizontal margin of said panel, said member having portions lying on opposite sides of the inclined in the direction of opening movement of said door.

ll. A metallic door comprising,y in combination with the panel thereof, a member secured to door is frictio'rially Y 1o Y to a namento a horizontal margin of said panel, said member having lportions lying on opposite sides vof the center line of said doo-r inclined in the direction of opening movement of said door, each of said portions embodying angularly related longitudinally extending flanges forming a substantially inverted V shaped section.

, l2. In combination, a sliding door, a track, a longitudinally extending Z-shaped member secured to the lower margin of said door, the flanges of said member extending vertically and the web thereof projecting outwardly rorn said door, said web being constructed to kprovide portions inn clined in the direction oi opening movement ofl said door, each'of said portions extending continuously for a 'distance somewhat less than onehalf the length vof said door and a plurality of balls disposed upon said track in rolling engagevment therewith adapted to engage sai-d inclined portions.

, 13. In cornbinatio a sliding door, a track, a longitudinally extending member secured to a horizontal margin of said door, al plurality of spaced downwardly opening channels secured to said member, said channels being inclined in the direction of opening movement of said door and balls disposed upon said track in rolling engagement therewith, said balls having rolling engagement with said channels to support said doorV during movement thereof.

14. In combination, a sliding door, a longitudinally extending member secured to a horizontal margin of said door, a plurality of spaced downwardly opening vchannels secured to said member, said channels being inclined in the direction of opening movement of Vsaid door and a pluralityl of ballsdisposed upon said track in track, a

rolling engagement with said channels to support said door during movement thereof, the iianges during movement thereof.

16. A metallic door comprising, in combination with the metallic panel thereof, a longitudinally extending member secured to a horizontal marsaid panel, said member having a substansaid ilange, said toward the rear of said door.

kcar member having a door f 17. In a railway housecaryin combination, a opening, a sliding door member adapted to close said opening, longitudinally extending rearwardly inclined'track means secured to one of said members, antifriction means having peripheral engagement with said track means for supporting said door for longitudinal movement, the inclination of said member being such that said door is frictionally supported in one extreme position thereof with the Weight of said door removed from said antifriction means and means for disposing said door upon/ said antifriction means for movement thereon.

18. In combination, a sliding door, a track having a horizontally positioned uninterrupted tread, antifriction means disposed upon said tread for relative longitudinal movement with respect to said track and said door, means secured to and adapted `to support saiddoor upon said antifriction means, said means being inclined longitudinally relative to said track whereby said door will be supported upon said antifrictional means during the travel of said door and be disengaged from and frictionally supported upon said track in an extreme position of said door.

FREDERICK C. HEIN EN. 

